Game apparatus



' ct. 17, 1939.. R, P. SHELTQN 2,176,725

GAME APPARATUS Filed Aug. 4, 1938 kINVENToR. REBER-r F EHELTUN.

A TTORNEK Patented Oct. 17, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 5 Claims.

' similar institutions by patients undergoing physical or mental therapytreatment, where physical effort and mental concentration are factors insuch treatment; and (4) use in public places such as carnivals,amusement parks, and the like. It

will also be obvious that the game may be played by one player, orseveral of the games may be played. simultaneously and competitively bysev'- eral players.

It is particularly proposed to provide a game which may simulate variousevents, as for instance, a round the world flight, or other undertakingwhere progress may be measured in various steps, in other words, in around the world flight the steps will represent the various stops. It isproposed to provide means whereby such steps in the game will requiregreater or less skill, and vwhich may be compared to the di'icultyencountered at different points in the flight or other undertaking thatthe game simulates. In the case of simulation of an around the worldEight, the board will contain a map representation which will have theeducationalfunctions of giving instruction in the names and location ofvarious countries and cities.

In carrying out my invention, I propose to employ at each stop a pegwhich the player enydeavors to ring or engage by means of a ring orother suitable device, carried upon the end of a cord, wire or the like,which in turn is suspended from the end of a Wand or stick, such wand orstick being provided with means which will cornpel the player to hold itat a predetermined distance from the end thereby standardizing theconditions of play required by each player, and also` standardizing theconditions for ringing the pegs at each stop. Y

It is further proposed tol provide the pegs at the diflerent stops ofvarious heights, and which will require various degrees of skill inringing in order to engage the ring with them. It is further proposedtoprovide, as one form of the invention, a surface surrounding the pegwhich will have a varying contour so that different degreesof skill willbe required depending upon the point at which it is tried to engage thering, and such surface contour may be in the nature of an obstruction orhazard, simulating, for instance, trees, telephone wires, etc.

A further object is to provide a game apparatus of this type in whichtiming means will be coordinated With the game, so that the players timein completing the course may be scored. Where a number oi" games areplayed simultaneously and competitively by several players the iirst tofinish will be considered the winner, irrespective of time. l

A further object is to provide a game apparatus of simple andinexpensive construction, in which the parts may be readily removed andreplaced, in the event of breakage or wear.

With the above and other objects in View, embodiments of the inventionare shown in the accompanying drawing, and these embodiments will behereinafter more fully described with reference thereto, and theinvention will be finally pointed out in the claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. `1 is a perspective View showing the game apparatus according tothe invention.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation showing one form of vring according to theinvention.

Fig. 3 is an edge view thereof. l Fig. iris a sectional view showing oneof the pegs and which is ofcylindrical cross-section.

Fig. 5 is a similar view showing a modified form of peg, and which is ofsquare or triangular or other cross-section.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view showing the ring also in section, in positionto be engaged with the peg, the peg shown in this View being relativelyhigh and requiring a relatively high degree of skill to vengage the ringtherewith.

Fig. '7 is a similar view showing a shorter peg, and which requires alesser degree of skill than the peg as shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view of a modification in which the contour of theboard surrounding the peg is in the form of a hill at one side and avalley at the other, the dot and dash lines showing-the relativepositions of the ring as the vplayer endeavors to ring the peg.

Fig. 9 isa sectional view showing a board or portion of the board ofconvex form.

Fig. 10 is a sectional view showing a board or portion of the board ofconcave form.

Figs. 1l to 16 inclusive, show various modifications of the ring.

Fig. 17 is a vertical sectional view of the modification of the ring asshown in Fig. 16.

shown a similarly shaped ring 31 having a circular hole 38.

In Fig. 13 I have shown a circular ring 39 having a diagonally disposedslot-like hole 40 therein.

In Fig. 14 I have shown a ring 4l of kite-like shape having a hole 42 ofsemi-circular shape. I have also shown above the hole 42 and along thecenter line of the ring a groove 43, which may be provided therein forthe purpose of guiding the ring with respect to the peg after it hasbeenengaged therewith. Such groove may be provided at one side only ofthe ring, in which case it will be easier to engage it with the ring ifthis side is brought into engagement with the peg rather than the plainside.

In Fig. 15 I have shown a circular ring 21 and having the cord 26secured thereto by a hitch 44, carried about the ring and knotted at 45.This hitch will function as a guide groove.

In Figs. 16 and 17 I have shown a circular ring 21 and provided at eachside with radial grooves 46, and in which a loop 41 of the cord 26 isengaged, and secured by knotting at 48, the arrangement being such thatthe cord is below the surface of the ring, and at the same time thegroove constitutes a guide means for assistance in engaging the peg.

It will be obvious from the foregoing that the shape of the ring and thehole provided therein, as well as the means for attaching the cord maybe varied, as desired, and that the surface of the ring may be providedwith a groove or grooves arranged either to assist or hinder theengagement of the ring with the peg.

In playing the game the player will start at a given starting point, forinstance New York as shown in the illustrated embodiment, and willendeavor to ring the pegs in sequence, the stop watch being started atthe beginning of the game and stopped when the player has completed thecircuit. The rules may be such that in order to win the player must makethe circuit within a given time, as for instance, one minute. Where twoor more lgames are played competitively between two or more players, thefirst to complete the circuit will be considered the winner. It will beunderstood that the height of the pegs, the shape of the ring, thelength of the cord, the length of the wand, and the contour of thesurface surrounding the peg may be varied, and that such variation willaffect the diiculty or ease of ringing the pegs. In this way the gamemay be scientifically designed to meet the different uses contemplated.For instance, where the .game is to be used in hospitals or similarinstitutions for physical or mental therapy treatment, it willpreferably be so designed that the pegs may be engaged with comparativeease, this being especially desirable in the case of certain types ofpatients. In the case of the game being used for purely entertainment orcompetitive purposes the various factors will be designed to make itcomparatively difficult.

I have illustrated and described preferred and satisfactory embodimentsof the invention, but it will be obvious that changes may be madetherein, within the spirit and scope thereof, as defined in the appendedclaims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:

1. In a game apparatus for use with a wand controlled apertured ringingdevice having predetermined outer and inner diameters, a playing fieldboard, a series of spaced sequential ly arranged stop means upon saidplaying field, each consisting of an upstanding peg member secured tosaid board, certain of said pegs being relatively higher than others,the upper ends of said higher pegs adapted to engage said ringing devicewhen the latter is leaned against said peg at a point between the top ofthe aperture and the top of the outer edge of the ringing device, andthe upper ends of said relatively shorter pegs being in line with aportion of said aperture when said ringing device is in leaning relationwith respect to the said peg.

2. In a game apparatus for use with a wand controlled apertured ringingvdevice, a playing field board, a series of spaced sequentially arrangedstop means upon said playing field, each consisting of an upstanding pegmember secured to said board, said playing field having a nonfiatsurface in surrounding relation to at least one side of said peg.

3. In a game apparatus for use with a wand controlled apertured ringingdevice, a playing field board, a series of spaced sequentially arrangedstop means upon said playing field, each consisting of an upstanding pegmember secured to said board, said playing field having a hill andvalley surface in surrounding relation to at least one side of said peg,the hill being at one side and the valley at the other.

4. In a game apparatus for use with a Wand controlled apertured ringingdevice, a playing field board, a series of spaced sequentially arrangedstop means upon said playing field, each consisting of an upstanding pegmember secured to said board, said playing field having a convex surfacein surrounding relation to at least one of said pegs.

5. In a game apparatus for use with a wand controlled apertured ringingdevice, a playing field board, a series of spaced sequentially arrangedstop means upon said playing field, each consisting of an upstanding pegmember secured to said board, said playing eld having a concave surfacein surrounding relation to at least one of said pegs.

ROBERT P. SI-IELTON.

